Year 12 Work Experience Zoology

[Hazel665]

Can anyone help or advise? My daughter is Year 12, studying at Sixth Form College, doing Geography, Biology and Sociology A levels. Really interested in Zoology at uni. She has to find at least 21 hours' work experience in that area (she has a Sunday job in a cafe so already has generic work experience, but the college wants them to do targeted work experience).

We must have emailed over 20 organisations. Some don't reply, others say they can't offer to under 18s, or only from a certain area etc. Where they've not replied, she's phoned them, and they tell her to email....

Can anyone help?!

How about Easter lambing? DD’s best friend studies Zoology at uni and that’s what she did alongside working part time on her livery yard. Are there any local wildlife organisations that she could volunteer with? Even if she doesn’t find something perfect It’s not something I’d stress too much over OP, zoology entry requirements aren’t too strict and they don’t typically expect much work experience.

Anything to do with animals can be hard to get work experience in if under 18.

My DD is doing animal care at college and is 18+. She has to do work experience as part of her course. She wrote to 15 places and was lucky to get 2 yeses, but at least half didn't reply after all.

Vets, local animal sanctuary or dog trust etc? Local farm park or farms with animals?

It’s worth asking any local animal sanctuaries too - DD volunteered at one for her Duke of Edinburgh award when she was 15. They ran a scheme for young people. The only clause was that under 18s were unable to work with the dogs for insurance purposes.

My DD is doing a Level 3 BTech in Animal Care after her GCSEs and will need to find placements so we're already keeping an eye on the BIAZA jobs board as it does include volunteer and WE positions.

Thank you so much everyone, will try all suggestions.

Have you tried any local agricultural colleges? The one my son attends has a zoo, equine centre etc. They are very used to organising work experience placements.

Exotic pet shops?

DD is at Uni doing Zoology and had a Gap year.
She volunteered at a Bird sanctuary, helped a vet friend (actually assisted with ops and all sorts), had a pet sitting business, volunteered at a community farm. Some of these were only possible because she turned 18 though, its hard to get insurance for a child to be on a lot of animal related sites

I'm interested in what uni this is, because I help students apply to just about every uni in the UK that offers zoology through UCAS and I have never seen a request for work experience. My students are on animal management course, so may be it's a follow up request after applying if they don't have experience?
It's not a huge number of wex hours, so I wouldn't worry too much, or look either unis.

but the college wants them to do targeted work experience
I think from the OP it is the 6th form college that is suggesting/asking/demanding the 21 hours, presumably to help the uni application in general.

Ah, sorry, it's the sixth form asking. Doggy day cares are often willing to help, but depending where you live, if there are animal care courses at local colleges, demand will be huge.

My advice is go in, don't just email.

My daughters friend did w/e at the seal sanctuary I think in Cornwall. She was under 18

We take students from year 11 up at our care farm (we are a working farm that also provides day care in a farm setting for adults with LD and excluded students). We have two there this week and next helping with lambing and other animal
care. Not sure where you are but we are half an hour north of London if that helps!

Oh this sounds brilliant and we are in north London – I will DM you!